Warehouse managers and their teams face many different safety hazards. Employee tasks run the gamut — from picking orders to stretch-wrapping pallets to maneuvering forklifts — and within each, there are a range of safety considerations.

But the data shows the necessity of good safety practices. Warehousing and Storage – the official title for this type of work from OSHA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics – experienced 193 days-away-from-work injuries for every 10,000 workers in 2020, 60% more than the rate across all industries. Furthermore, the median time away was 18 days, 50% higher than all industries.

The top 10 most violated OSHA standards in Warehousing and Storage for 2020 were:

• 1910.178: Powered industrial trucks
• 1910.1200: Hazard Communication
• 1910.37: Maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes
• 1910.176: Handling materials - general
• 1910.272: Grain handling facilities.
• 1910.303: General
• 5A0001: General Duty Paragraph
• 1910.157: Portable fire extinguishers.
• 1910.305: Wiring methods, components, and equipment
  for general use.

But that’s not all to keep in mind. For example, falling object hazards can be mitigated by checking the condition of pallets, loading the pallets evenly and ensuring items on the pallets are properly secured. Loading docks should have protective measures, such as guardrails, to protect against falls.

This interactive guide helps you review 12 common warehouse safety hazards, and it also offers warehouse safety tips and resources that can help reduce incidents and injuries.